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Business Details
General Info
- Oldest Original Family Owned Mexican Restaurant In San Antonio
- The Best Mexican Food
Extra Phones
- Fax: (210) 492-6079
In Business Since 1949
Reviews & Recommendations
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Provided by YPmobile
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I haven't been in a long time but I
Provided by Citysearch
I haven't been in a long time but I loved their cheese enchiladas yum!
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Horrible
Provided by YPmobile
This restaurant was in the ghetto ! The bathrooms were disgusting . And the food was gross ! The lady at the register didn't even say thank you and had a BAD ATTITUDE ... Don't waste your money on this place ....
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Nothing special - Terrible service
Provided by Citysearch
This USED TO BE a family favorite restaurant for years but the food is now just ""EH"". Jacala's has ordinary everyday Mexican food you can get at any of the 100s of other Mexican restaurants in this city. The margaritas are so-so & overpriced. We had a large group for dinner - as it's a favorite place for the guest of honor but I hope I never have to go back there again. What made the experience worse was our server was really bad or just totally inexperienced. So much so that it necessitated a conversation with the manager. Drink orders were taken promptly but ordering dinner was another issue. When we told her we were ready to order she said ""I can't take your order because the kitchen is backed up & busy"". WHAT!!?? The manager's excuse was that several large groups arrived that they weren't expecting. Considering it was a holiday weekday - between Christmas & New Years - this seemed like a lame excuse. We had called the day before & made a reservation. By the end of the evening we had 8 waiters but this was because we had been waiting so long we were the last customers in the place!!
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Rude and Very Unprofessional On The Phone
Provided by Citysearch
Hi: My Husband just returned from Iraq. He wanted some good Tex Mex. Looked to City Search as we normally do. Found Jacala's phone number called to ask questions about menu and pricing. Lady who answered the phone around 4:15PM or so, was rude and not very friendly. We had the phone on speaker so that we could both deside on what we wanted to eat. I can hear my husband being so very nice to a not so very pleasant person on the phone at Jacala. My husband stated that he was just getting back from overseas, and wanted some mexican food. Who would have thought that the person who answered the phone at Jacala could be so very rude to a returning military person who has been overseas fighting for her freedom? I'm seeking another place to feed my warrior for America's freedoms. God bless you woman who answered the phone around 4:15pm
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Best Tex-Mex EVER!!
Provided by Citysearch
I grew up in San Antonio and throughout my lifetime have lived all over the world; but when I come home to Texas I have to have my Jacala. \r \r Jacala has been in business since 1949 and their food and service has ALWAYS been consistently great!! You will not find a better plate of Tex-Mex anywhere in the world. I assure you!! \r \r I'm living in the virgin islands but will be home in a couple of weeks and Jacala will be my first stop.\r \r LOVE YOU JACALA FAMILY!! Keep doing what your doing.....it has worked for over 60 years..... and still going strong!
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NOT THE BEST
Provided by Citysearch
WHEN A RESTAURANT GETS TO BIG THEN THEY LOSE TASTE AND PORTION SIZES THERE PLENTY OF OTHER MEX ICAN RESTAURANTS OUT THERE TRY THE MOM AND POPS LOT BETTER TASTEING FOOD MORE FOR THE MONEY
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San Antonio's Best Mexican Restaurant
Provided by Citysearch
My husband and I ate at Jacala over the Christmas holidays and discovered our favorite mexican restaurant in town! We have already been back for another dose of their tasty enchiladas. We learned on our first visit the restaurant has been in business for over 60 years and is the oldest family owned mexican restaurant in San Antonio. When we entered, we were immediately greeted by one of the owners and she promptly seated us. We started off with a round of their house margaritas and some chips and queso. The server suggested some of their signature dishes and my husband, a large man, ordered the #3 platter which included 3 cheese enchiladas, rice & beans with 2 puffy tacos. Needless to say, he was full by the end of the meal! I ordered, the #4A, the 'Ladies Special' which includes 2 cheese enchiladas, rice & beans, and 1 beef puffy taco. Our dishes were delicious and service was great! A five star recommendation whenever you are in the area!!
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This place is da bomb!!
If you are looking for a comfortable place to let your hair down and have fun on a budget, look no further. The food is fabulous and plentiful, the drinks are good and affordable and the atmosphere is lively and feels like home. You will almost always find one of the three daughters (now the owners) or the grand-daughter walking around making sure the patrons are happy!! They truly want you to feel at home.
Jacala has been serving three and four generations of loyal customers since the inception of their business in 1949. The original owner, Rudy Quinones created his own flair of recipes from his childhood memories of his hispanic family growing up in Oklahoma. It doesn't get anymore Tex/Mex than that! You cannot find another enchilada or puffy taco any where in the world that tastes like Jacala. I know, because I have traveled the world trying to find something that came a little close.........never happened.
So....if you are looking for a place to have fun, meet with friends, have a party, reception or just a romantic evening, you will love this place......and you might even see a celebrity or two.
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Jacala is the best!!
Provided by YPmobile
We travel from Dallas several times a year just to eat at Jacala. We held our engagement party out on their beautiful back patio last year. We had nearly 100 people and it was the best engagement party a girl could ask for. The wait staff and owners are amazing, very attentive and sweet as they can be. This restaurant is very reasonably priced and the food is out of this world.
I must say that after reading the negative comment below, I feel sorry for Jacala. I've never heard one negative comment about Jacala until now so what does that tell you? Maybe little Miss Bride was having a bad day!! -
STAY AWAY!! Owners are Rude and Very Unprofessional
Provided by Citysearch
We had our Wedding Reception at this restaurant. Things were rocky from the beginning and kept getting different responses to our questions. We treated all our guests to dinner and after paying the bill, I realized that we were not credited for our $50 dep!! Then i realized that we were over-charged by $122!! I was upset, but had to wait til Monday because ONE of the owners graciously left word with the Hostess to KEEP our deposit and NEVER had the decency to come speak with me or my husband about it before leaving for the night!!! Monday came around and I never received a phone call, so I called around noon, the OTHER owner said she would give me my deposit back, but of course i had to go pick it up. I continued to tell her that we were over-charged and she continued to give me the run-around for two days and basically told me that I should have checked my bill thoroughly before we left the restaurant. I thought they would be honest about this whole thing, I knew EXACTLY how many guests I had and the bill did not add up!! SHe tried to tell me that her staff said people were coming in before my dinner started and were eating and leaving, which was a crock, little did she know one of my aunts was confused with the time and showed up 1.5 hours before the dinner and stayed in the area with the obvious white linens....no one EVER sat at the white linen tables before we got there!!! I NEVER received an apology!! These women have no customer service or even TRY to be the least bit accommodating, are rude and one says one thing and the other says another!!! I left a review on another web-site and received a ""nice"" phone call from one of the owners this morning, calling my husband a liar, calling me a liar and was furious about my review!! She continued to hang up on me twice, would not let me talk and advised me to NEVER step foot in her restaurant again, which if she would've thoroughly read my review, would know that I WILL NEVER or any of my guests or their friends or family, EVER go to that restaurant. I did receive some of my money back, again with no apology, but i'm still out $84!! STAY AWAY!!
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If you like true Mexican/Tex-Mex Food, Read this...
Provided by Citysearch
It's disappointing to read such negative reviews about a San Antonio landmark. If you are a true Mexican food aficionado, like myself, then you don't expect a clean five star restaurant or excellent service typically because there is a language barrier. Instead, you expect great homemade food authentic ingredients. Mexican food is GREASY and if made correctly will not be with CHEDDAR cheese but creamy goat cheese. That is the way Mexican food, or should I clarify, authentic Tex-Mex food is made. I have been a loyal patron for my entire life. I am a fourth generation customer and have celebrated every birthday at Jacala. This restaurant is not located on the best side of town and typically I drive 30 minutes to get there, but it is worth the drive every time! If you want great Mexican/Tex-Mex food, then you'll overlook these reviews and find a true local gem. I will be a loyal patron for life!
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Robert G
Great food & Service- The refried beans were excellent and the homemade corn tortillas melted in my mouth; I had the puffy tacos beef and chicken which were good.
The waitstaff was perfect-- food came quickly and they refilled the glasses , sauces and chips without me calling them repeatedlyl.
I"ll Be back, Rob -
Best in San Antonio
Our family has been eating at Jacala for 20 years. Other restaurants come and go but Jacala is still the best! Service is not always A rated, but let the staff know and they jump on it!
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bad!
Provided by Citysearch
I have been there before, and not been impressed, but this last time I went (about 2 weeks ago) was awful. The grease tasted old, and our server confirmed this by telling us that our tortillas were ""fresh from 2 weeks ago."" The food is terrible. We tried to talk to the owner but she was too busy on the phone. Then, on the way out, we almost got mugged. Some random person followed my husband, CHILDREN, and myself to the parking lot and was yelling at us, and we were only ok due to the fact that Jacala keeps a sheriff's deputy on site. DO NOT EAT HERE.
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Excellent service, so-so food
Provided by Citysearch
Out of a family of 5, no one was impressed with their food. The cheese was not real cheddar. The chili rellano grease tasted old. The service, chips and salsa were fine.
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I've Been Going There Since 1974
Provided by Citysearch
I've been going since 1974. Have ordered the same meal all these years, the #7 or ""Ladies' special."" This would be the last meal I would ask for if I was ever on death row. However, they are not the best place for grilled meats. Therefore, get your fajita fix someplace else. Any special event in my family, college graduation, somebody bought a new car, we went to La Jacala. It's simple, a true ""greasy spoon"" type of place, nothing fancy, don't have to get dressed up, but if you do, it's ok. Sometimes the wait staff doesn't live up to the reputation; if you go often enough, you'll notice that they don't last long.
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Worst dining experiences
Provided by Citysearch
The experience was embarassing, awkward and humiliating to me and the lady I was with. When I complained the waitperson went to get the manager but the manager never showed up. The food was highly salted to the point that it was inedible and unhealthy. My companion also ordered some sides that at first were not served with the entree and when asked for them were served in rude and sultry manner. I paid for my food and I cannot express how glad I was to get out of that restaurant.
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Will drive from Houston for their tortillas!
Provided by Citysearch
This was our first visit to Jacala. My boyfriend and I came to SA for the weekend and stayed on the River Walk. By the time Sunday came we were tired of the commercialized restaurants and blah food on the River Walk. As a person who loves to cook and has a deep appreciation for food, I was impressed with everything at Jacala. We were seated immediately and drink orders taken right away (Sangria and House margarita). We ordered the Mole Chicken and the Jacala plate but not before tasting the mole sauce as suggested. The mole sauce ranks on my top five list and the chicken was falling off the bone. The cheese enchilada with carne, puffy taco, and queso were quite tasty. I am not normally a fan of refried beans but wrapped up in one of their homemade corn tortillas with some salsa they were perfect. We liked the flour tortillas so much we asked for some to-go! Our service was spot on. We didn't have to ask for anything and our chips, salsa, and drinks were always full. I can already tell you I will be craving the chicken mole and the tortillas, so we'll definitely be back! Thanks to the Jacala family for a great dining experience.
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Where the locals eat!
Jacala is probably one of the best-kept secrets in San Antonio's Mexican food scene. Located in an out-of-the-way West Avenue eatery, it's been in business since 1949. I've been eating there at least that long. When I have out-of-town guests that the first place we go.
Their food is true Tex-Mex, and they're noted for their "puffy tacos" ( a mouth-watering conncoction of specially spiced beef and hand-tossed tortillas). But the 'coup de grace' is their Cheese Enchilada plate. Smothered in Jacala's signature chili (the tasty variety, not the super-hot type), Jacala's Enchilladas are 'to die for'.
If you want to return to tell your friends that you've had the very best Mexican foot money can buy, tell your waiter you want a Number 3 plate (their most popular). For the lesser appetite, try the 'Lady's Special', or the identical 'Macho's Special'.
Wash it all down with a Especial Maragarita, and you can truly go back having eaten the 'real thing'! As to the service; it's incomparable! Richard (now in his 70s, has been with Jacala since he was 18 years old. Hi protogee', Miguel, has been there at least 25 years. Guera (pronounced Wera) has been there at least as long as Miguel and runs the second tier of restaurant help with a professional touch.
Want to show your sophistication? Try to find the well-hidden face of Jesus in the mural along the rear wall. As a hint: It's located in the trees where the 'Rosita Bridge' crosses the San Antonio River. A further hint: It's on the right hand side of the bridge.
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YP Mobile Page for Jacala Mexican Restaurant, San Antonio, TX
